Composer
7.4#10 in package managersFree planFree planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows
VisitComposer vs pip
What both publish
| Fact | Composer | pip |
|---|---|---|
| Dependency resolution | Composer determines which package versions need to be installed and can update all dependencies in one command. | pip resolves dependencies and selects the latest version that satisfies the given constraints. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Installation options | Composer can be installed locally in a project or globally as a system wide executable. | pip is commonly installed with Python and can also be installed using ensurepip or get-pip.py. |
| Lockfile support | Yes | Yes |
| Offline installation | Yes | Yes |
| Package formats | PHP packages; ZIP; TAR; VCS repositories | sdist,wheel |
| Package sources | Composer uses Packagist by default and supports custom Composer, VCS, and local path repositories. | pip looks at PyPI by default and can install packages from other Python package repositories. |
| Platform support | Composer says it is designed to run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. | The current pip version works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. |
| Private registry auth | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | Composer is a tool for managing PHP project dependencies, installing and updating the libraries a project declares. | pip is the package installer for Python and can install packages from PyPI and other indexes. |
| Support | The project says commercial support and consulting are available through its sponsorship page. | The documentation directs users seeking help to GitHub Issues, the Discourse channel, and User IRC. |
| Supported platforms | PHP; Windows; Linux; macOS | The current pip version is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and maintainers do not support other operating systems. |
Composer plans
- ComposerFree
pip plans
- pipFree
Pick Composer if…
Composer suits PHP developers who need to install and update project libraries across Windows, Linux, or macOS. Its package auditing and repository options may also suit teams managing dependency policies or custom package sources.
Pick pip if…
pip suits Python users who need to install packages from indexes, source archives, or project repositories. Its requirements-file, lockfile, and offline-installation support may be useful for managing environments.